Such a cute place!!! Gona was an absolute sweetheart! My friend and I stopped by to kill some time before a late night concert around the corner and we couldn't have been more obsessed with the find! We'll definitely be back in the future!! read more

Service: They completely forgot about our table after we ordered drinks. They didn't leave us time to order food. Even though I made a reservation for that reason. read more

The vibes are great - cute "cenote" aesthetic which is interesting and fun. They have a Thursday marg deal but you need to drink at least 3+ margs to make it worth it. Their staff is super attentive and lovely. For a lounge this was probably the most attentive waitresses/waiters I've ever met lol. Your water will never run out lol. My biggest gripes with the place is really on three major points. 1. Food - it's Fine but they charge you a lot for very small portions and only decent tasting food - nothing to write home about. 2. Prices - again the price of food is ridiculous and just not worth it. But prices for drinks is actually pretty standard - maybe even a little cheaper than other IG featured locations and 3. My biggest pet peeve - they included a gratuity tax - ie. They tack on their own tip and didn't let me put my own. Maybe you like that maybe you don't but be sure to check your check to make sure you're not over tipping and I always feel a certain type of way when people force a tip - I tip good and I just feel it's kind of insulting? Lol - that could just be me though. Overall, this is like a pre-game / looking to get drunk on margs place. Not really a sit down to eat place. Maybe cheap small snacks but even the apps are expensive - not a place to eat. read more

I'd give this 6 stars is I could!!! The food, service, and ambiance were awesome. A MUST for NYC. read more

See all

The food, drinks and music are really good here. Our server, Gona, provided great service. We didn't have to wait long for our order. The place has a nice Lowkey vibe during the early evening. read more

super cool space, it's literally a cave. crowd was messy and it was extremely difficult to move it was so packed. walked in and walked right back out and i don't regret it at all read more

This place was cute, the cave ambiance was different. Our waitress Gona was attentive, kind, and super friendly. The food honestly wasn't bad at all. Would recommend to anyone wanting to hang out with friends. Will definitely be back! read more

La Caverna is such a fun funky place and the perfect vibe for a party. friendly bartenders and staff, tasty tacos, solid drinks, and great energy for mixing and mingling or a dance party. they had a happy hr special going when we went too so it was a good deal! it's also super unique decor and totally transported us from the LES. def recommend it, have fun!! read more

Love this place! Sarah was a dream come true. The nachos, the drinks, the vibes...what more could a woman want. read more

La Caverna - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Visited for my partner's birthday after a friend's recommendation and we were not disappointed! The music is super lively with a mid-20s crowd and our entire group of 10 got in with no cover! The drinks were also strong however spilled everywhere because everyone was dancing so hard Bear in mind if you get there at 11 when everyone else gets there you'll have to wait 30mins+ to get in, but on the bright side there's a great pizza place and convenience store across the street so you can grab a beverage and a slice before waiting in line! read more

La Caverna - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Gona was great ! very conversation and made our experience great. Came on a Tuesday and still had a great time. Thanks ! read more

Unique concept, it does come off a little tacky in person but I'd definitely recommend visiting at least once

We came here for taco Tuesday ($3 tacos and $8 margs) and loved it. It truly looks like a cave once you're inside. The waiter was nice and our food was delicious. She even gave us a tres leches dessert on the house and it was to die for. Happy to come back here soon! read more

La Caverna - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Stumbled across this place by accident and now it's definitely a regular place my boyfriend and I visit. Their happy hour goes till 10pm which is way later than most places. Has nice decor and the friendliest bartenders! On the weekends it def can get crowded with people dancing and good music but it's always a good time. Highly recommend for a lowkey weekday or a fun weekend night! read more

La Caverna - New American Near Me - New York, New York

This spot is great on a Thursday night... Gona and Linda turned my bday around! The food, drinks and music were great! read more

Food was good. Service was spotty. Checking on tables should be pretty second-nature especially when the restaurant isn't packed. Appetizer orders shouldn't take a half hour to deliver. Restaurants are still recovering so I'll give the benefit of the doubt, especially since the food/drinks were actually good. The atmosphere is pretty cool too so we'll likely check back again and see how it is when things are a little more normal. read more

Food was better than I had expected and fairly inexpensive. The sweet potato fries and quesadillas were quite good. Amazingly good and friendly service from Gona. And the place itself is fab! Kitschy fake cave with ridiculous cave paintings and other "decor." Totally refreshing and fun. read more

This is the kind of place that's great for drinks...but not so much food. Unique atmosphere since you are underground and really feel like you're in a cave. Wasn't impressed with the tacos or quesadilla but at least it was cheap! Tables are put away around 11pm read more

See all

Food was good and vibes were fun. We ordered the endless margs on Thursday and the drinks were strong. The service was subpar but not atrocious. Tip is added on to the bill so it becomes $60/pp + tax. read more

I loved the decor of this place. The place had a happy hour running till 10pm on Saturday. The cosmo that the bartender served was the cheapest one on the menu that I ordered but I loved it! The bartender made them spot on and he made sure that it was done right every time he served it to me. I had to order like 5 more before the happy hour was up, it was that good! This place got very busy and the music was pumping after 10:30pm with the live DJ. It was great to have a large group meet up and they had lots of seating. Bottle service for parties as well. I will totally recommend people to come out and check this place out. read more

See all

My friend wears a head covering for religious reasons and they wouldn't let him in because their dress code doesn't allow hats. I'm so appalled at this behavior from the bouncers, living in what I thought was the most inclusive neighborhood and the most inclusive city in the country. Thankfully there are approximately 100 bars per square foot in the Lower East Side that I would recommend instead! I hope the bar reads this review and considers a more inclusive door policy. read more

Has an amazing ambiance with good food and great music. Our waitress Gona was spectacular and very attentive. Food price was also very reasonable! read more

Great club at night for the atmosphere, the drinks were average priced for NYC $100 for 4 before tip. Long lines at the bathroom, but packed on a Friday night. Young college crowd. read more

Have you ever had the feeling that you just walked onto the set of a Flintstones movie? I have. Yes...La Caverna pretty much felt like I was partying in something of a mix between "bedrock" and an underground faux cave but the aroma was quite interesting. At first I thought they sprayed some really funky air freshener across the whole club but then I looked at the bar and noticed someone was smoking hookah? All the different flavors added a mixed scent to the air. The crowd was certainly a mixed group: some balding older men, some fist-pumpers, some college age party goers and then there are the people that just end up there who were sick of waiting in all the other lines in the LES. The only thing that kept me moving was the DJ, he played great dance songs: Love like this, Give it to me, Murder she wrote...I felt like it was the soundtrack to "save the last dance" but it was fun! read more

La Caverna - From website - New American Near Me - New York, New York

The waitresses were super diligent in filling up our cups during bottomless marg night! My friend and I enjoyed our dinner as well. It was not crowded at all and everyone was super nice and attentive. I totally recommend coming here! read more

My first time coming to a cave like spot like this and I'm in love!!!! The atmosphere, food, drinks & service were immaculate. Thank you to Gona for helping us out! read more

Atmosphere, physical layout, and decor: - Walls were cool. I appreciated the texture and 3D quality of the walls. The addition of light fixtures added depth and visual appeal - The fake ivy adhered to the speakers scattered around the basement seems like an afterthought - Very cave-like - Descent into cave could be cooler - the entrance is a business's first opportunity to capture the customers attention and then set the tone and behavioral expectations - compare to entrance of Nowadays (club in bushwick) with the debrief in the small room before being allowed to enter, i think that positively contributed to transitioning into that environment from whatever you were doing before you arrived. Granted they're not the exact same type of establishment - La Caverna isn't hosting raves, but i still think some aspects of the entranceway could be improved - Addition of more thematic lighting/props could make for a more convincing conveyance of theme beyond just being a cave (but maybe just being a cave is enough?) Location: - Far from the Bronx :/ -true this place is a hike from anywhere uptown so if you're going to make the effort to travel all the way down, just make sure it's not exclusively to visit La Caverna. If you're in chinatown anyway, and you have some other activities planned, go to this place first, or in the middle of your day, or at the end, or not at all, but it's not going to be your whole enchilada (pun) (they serve Mexican food during restaurant hours) - Operating a bar a block north of Delancey street in the lower east side is a bit of a double edged sword. A stone's throw away, locations like The Grand Delancey and Attaboy boast decades worth of international accolades and are widely considered the best bars in the city. Certainly the area draws a constant string of business, but with nearby competition so steep, mediocrity is that much easier to spot. If you moved the bar in its current entirety to another place like Jersey city or Long Island it would be the best bar in jersey city/Long Island Temperature: - It was uncomfortably warm with very little airflow - As a nurse and future doctor, it felt like a health hazard. I was worried about one of the people in my group overheating - This category is so important and i think you nailed it - Temperatures not consistent with that of an actual cave (cold) but ventilation was certainly was accurate to that of an actual cave (practically non-existent) Music selection & Quality: - DJ was having fun and seemed excited to be there - Mostly crowd pleasers. Music lacked character and interest but it seemed to be received well - The DJ did play "call me maybe" which is a huge red flag for me. Saw a girl enjoying it so I took a video to showcase that the DJ was getting the crowd moving despite playing v cringe music - You slayed this too^ Crowd Characteristics: - A classic chicken-or-the-egg case of "what came first?" - The college crowd or the college aura? Did the latter attract the former, or did the former create the latter? Either way, there was a tangible sense of "I'm attempting to relive my college days"drifting throughout the establishment, with a slight tinge of youthful overindulge - I accidentally bumped shoulders with a few people in the crowd and they were totally not nice about it, so... - I met a really nice girl in the bathroom line who had to pee really badly. I felt connected to her because I've been in her shoes so many times. I let her cut me in line and she was very appreciative. I had a few run ins with some drunk sweaty finance bros who were trying to hit on me which was a big flop - Some girl told me I looked like a young Kurt Cobain while ordering a drink and that was a kind-hearted compliment to receive, however, it felt like it was given with the expectation of receiving a free drink. Quality of service: - Bartender who served me was extremely kind. Greeted me with a smile despite the bar being packed and having had to deal with drunk people all evening - Bathroom attendant was aggressive and his constant peeking into the women's restroom made me feel slightly uncomfortable - Could tell bartenders were working hard, getting to the bar was near impossible but once you were there it wasn't awfully hard to get a drink for how many people were there Quality of Product: - Drink quality was adequate. No real complaints - Quality reflected the volume of drinks needing to be made and the price point Bathrooms: - Creepy bathroom attendant constantly opening door and shining flashlight into women's bathroom - There were nowhere near enough bathroom stalls Epilogue: "Kantonia's Suggestions for a Better Business Model" - Get rid of creepy bathroom attendants. Give bartenders pay increase - Accentuate cave environment - Hire DJs who take risks - More bathroom stalls - Fire any DJ that plays "call me maybe" again - Take both sides of the business equally seriously read more

Ms. G treated the nyu crew amazing! Love the food, drinks, and vibe!!!!! Definitely recommend.

I've been coming here for two years. I absolutely love the vibe the food and of course the drinks. Thank you to G!

We could have eaten at a lot of places in NYC but I am glad we ate here. Visiting from out of town I wanted to go somewhere fun and memorable for our 11 year old and somewhere comfortable with good drinks for us two exhausted parents after biking half the city all day. Our kid loved that it looked like a Star Wars bar. It's really cool looking. We had great service and drinks (fresh tasting mules in cute copper cups). My son loved that he could order a quesadilla without "adult stuff". The corn was so delicious we ordered another. The portions were above average. The steak tacos were so good. Great vibes, nice waterfall, clean bathrooms. 10/10 read more

sarah is the best she was taking care of me and my friends while we got bottomless margaritas on a thursday night and she was so attentive and kind and didnt miss a single empty cup. i would ten out of ten recommend her as a server and this bar was really cool read more

La Caverna - New American Near Me - New York, New York

I've been here a few times for the nightclub-never for food. The music is always on point and the drinks are good too. There's usually a line outside on weekends but it goes by fast. Cool place to dance the night away as long as you and your friends can get past the racist bouncer, who will deny access to brown guys because of their outfits at the same time you see a white dude leave the club with the exact same outfit your friend is wearing. It's happened about two times with my groups of friends... sometimes we get in with no problem. I guess it depends on the racist bouncer mood (yes blond guy with an attitude, I'm talking to you). Good luck! read more

I was interested in this place when I saw online. But I was skeptical. I got there & , Linda welcomed us very well, and sat us down and explained the menu and how everything worked, for a Thursday. My friends and I had so much fun that we want to come back. Thank you to the whole team!! Food was great and drinks were good!! I will be coming back!!! read more

La Caverna is a restaurant that I have mixed opinions on. There are parts of it that I loved, and hated, and some that I thought were decent, and I would like to go over this restaurant so you can get an honest opinion on whether you should go or not. Let's start by talking about the atmosphere. The restaurant is named La Caverna, it is based on a cave, and they take this theme and run with it in clever and practical ways. The walls were made of stone, and the restaurant was in the shape of an unperfect oval. This paired with the cave paintings of various primal creatures and the dim lights, making it look like the light was coming from a fire, tied the whole theme together, making the place feel like a set from the Ice Age movies, but without the terrible CGI dodo birds. However, if I did have to give one critique, the music was not very fitting and it made me lose immersion. Considering that La Caverna is a club, they were playing generic pop songs, but I feel as if they could have found songs that are still popular and good to listen to, while still maintaining a more primal theme. For example, if they played popular songs from the 50s and 60s, that would maintain a prehistoric theme perfectly! Despite these critiques, the atmosphere in La Caverna is meticulously crafted and immersive and is a hugely positive part of the experience. The service at La Caverna is also great and put a good taste in my mouth before the food puts a bad one in it. First of all, the service was very fast, only taking around five minutes for the appetizers to arrive, and only taking around fifteen minutes for the main dishes to arrive afterward. This, given the fact that La Caverna is a club in New York, and that we visited on a crowded Saturday night, is beyond impressive to me. Second of all, the waitress we got was very kind, and she spoke in an energetic voice. The service here was very nice, and you could tell how passionate they were about their jobs. Even if the food wasn't. I am very mixed about the food here. Some dishes were great, some were decent, and some had severe room for improvement, adding up to an overall mediocre performance. The appetizers we got for the table were chips and guacamole and wings. The chips were quite hard, they almost came off stale but they didn't have much crunch to them, and the guacamole's ingredients weren't mixed that well, as the tomatoes and onions were only on top of the guacamole. However, the two did combine well in a nice, mellow flavor. I didn't like the wings at first, but after a few bites, I warmed up to them. The wings had just the right amount of crunch and spice to them, not being too spicy to the point where it hurts to eat, but not bland enough to the point where it is hard to eat without gagging. We then got to the entrees, and most of them left serious room for improvement. I got a steak fajita, my brother got shrimp tacos, and my dad got steak quesadillas and a Caesar salad. Luckily (for the sake of this review, not for my taste buds) I got the chance to try all four of these diverse dishes. I first tried my brother's shrimp tacos, and they were great. The shrimp's strong flavor and the onion's crunch went very well with the guacamole, and the combination also applied to the texture, as the guacamole drowned out the surface of the shrimp, which I'm not fond of. Unfortunately, this put me in a false sense of security that was immediately broken in the next dish I tried; the fajita. The peppers and onions were oversized, and most of the time longer than the steak the dish was named after! The cheese had no flavor while making the texture worse, the steak had very little seasoning, and the vegetables seemed to be seasoned by hand sanitizers because they had an aftertaste very similar to theirs. Also, the tortilla it was served on tasted crappy and artificial, similar to the taste of something like a wet wipe. My dad's Caesar salad was the next thing I tried, as it was the next thing to come out of the kitchen, and it gave me hope for the following dishes. As someone who's not a fan of caesar salad, I liked it. The lettuce was not overpowered by the dressing, and while the croutons did not have much of a crunch, they combined with the lettuce well in taste, making a pleasant dish and a good palate cleanser. However, the last dish I tried, my dad's steak quesadilla, immediately uncleansed my pallet, and was nowhere near as good. They put a type of sauce on top of the quesadilla, most likely sour cream, and it drowned out all the tastes and texture of all the other ingredients. It wasn't a quesadilla dish with sour cream, it was a sour cream dish with steak quesadillas. Top that off with the fact that I don't like sour cream, and it left a bad taste in my mouth until dessert came out. For dessert, we got churros, and they were quite nice. They didn't have much cinnamon on them, but that was masked by the excellent caramel sauce paired with the texture of the c read more

See all

La Caverna exceeded all expectations, came here for a delayed Valentines Day extravaganza. The atmosphere was phenomenal, the food was SHOCKINGLY delicious. GONA was an absolute gem and took care of us the whole night. Highly recommend the steak tacos and jalapeño burger. The sauce that came with the cries? Exceptional. They wouldn't tell me what it was exactly, but I'll be thinking about it days from now. 5/5. read more

I had my birthday dinner here with around 15 friends, Gona and Linds were the best waitresses ever and really made sure we had an amazing time from having perfect seating to making sure our marg glasses were never empty!!!! The Taco Tuesday deal is undeniably good. read more

Sara and Gona are absolutely amazing! The service was 10/10 and food and drinks 10/10. Will definitely be coming back ASAP!! The atmosphere is awesome! read more

Great decoration and service from Gona! Love the tacos here and the drinks !!! Will come again

I love the food the atmosphere is great the music was a vibe the carne tacos and margaritas are to die for shout out to our waitress Gona service was great read more

such a cool place and really awesome service and vibes! food and drinks were strong and good! 10/10 would recommend